TOKEN MONEY.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18027, 23 May 1930, Page 9

TOKEN MONEY.

OWNER OF LUNDY ISLAND. A PECULIAR PROSECUTION. Martin Coles Harman, a well-known financier and the owner of Lundy Island, which lies in the mouth of the Bristol Channel, near the Devon shore, was • recently charged at Bideford County Sessions with issuing as a token for money a piece of metal of the value of one halfpenny, contrary to the Coinage Act, 1870. A Vest-pocket Dominion. It was contended for Mr Harman that Lundy was a vest-pocket, selfgoverning Dominion, and the owner only exercised such rights as he thought fit. No rates or taxes of any kind were paid, and whatever levies were made were made by the owner; himself. There was no such thing as a register of births or deaths, and in cases of sudden death there were no inquests beyond an inquiry which the owner might make. After considerable historical argument the magistrates ruled that the case came within their jurisdiction, and Mr Harman then refused to plead, and left the court, with his solicitors. Mr Bazeley, for Mr Harman, at the outset, challenged the jurisdiction of the court, and for nearly an hour Mr Paling, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, argued that Lundy is within the jurisdiction of the County of Devon for magisterial, county court, parliamentary and other purposes. At the instigation’ of the court the defendant was called by the police and returned. The chairman instructed him to remain in court during the hearing of the case, in which, hdwever, neither he nor his solicitors took further part. Puffins and Half Puffins. The facts as to the issue of the tokens were not disputed. It was stated that 100,000 puffins and lialfpuffins. on the tokens were minted at Birmingham at a cost of about £2OO. Mr Paling said that when Mr Harman’s attention was called by the Royal Mint to the offence which he was committing he replied: “I should be pleased to let you ■ have a few specimens of the Lundy tokens if you desire them. I thank you for calling my attention to the Coinage Act of 1870, and in reply to your inquiry I would call your attention to the fact that Lundy is a little kingdom in. the British Empire but not of England. “It does not get free breakfasts, free education, old age pensions, the dole, etc.; nor does it contribute anything in Lundy in the shape of tithes, land tax, rates, or income tax to the mainland. Everyone on the island is working for me in some capacity or other—farming, fishing, keeping the hotel, and what not.” An official of a Birmingham firm said he supplied Mr Harman with the coins, which had a puffin on one side and Mr Harman on the other. The magistrates found the case proved and mposeid a fine of £5 and agreed costs at £ls 15s, which Mr Harman paid under protest*